Apparatus for fermenting and clarifying beer



(No Model.) J. SARGENT.

APPARATUS FOR FERMENTING AND ULARIFYING BEER No. 276,635.

WINE, 6m; Patented May 1 flit/62 2207 I Jams Sw mi I V I 0 u PETERS, PhnIoLiihngnphir. Wnhinglon. o, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICED JAMES SARGENT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR FERMENTING AND CLARIFYING BEER,W|NE, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,635, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed February 17, 1883.

To all whom rt may concern Be it known that I, JAMES SARGENT,a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the countyof Monroe and Stateot' New York, have invented new and useful I mprovements in Apparatus for Fermentingand. Clarifying Beer, Wine, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel method and means adapted for use in fermenting and clarifying beer, wine, or other fermenting liquids in air-tight vessels; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts comprising such means, as will be more fully hereinafter' set forth, and specifically pointed out in the several clauses of the claims.

The essential objects of theinvention, among others, may be briefly stated as follows: first, to provide such a construction of devices connecting all the barrels of a series that the excess of pressure arising from the fermentation of beer, &c., in one or more of the barrels will find its way to the other barrels of the series until the entire series shall have a uniform pressure, the amount of which shall have been predetermined; second, to provide a gas-repressure arising from slow or faulty fermentaacid gas to raise the pressure to a predetermined point; fifth, to provide a general supply-pipe which shall be common to all the barrels of the series, and have suitable connections with each, the'said supply-pipe being provided with check-valves to prevent backflow of gas; and, sixth, to provide such an arrange- (No model.)

mentof reservoir'valve and receiver-valve that a deficiency in pressure will be supplied from the reservoir until a predetermined pressure in all thebarrels of the series is reached, and that any surplus pressure will operate the exitvalve to open the same and automatically close the supply, all as will be more fully explained. To accomplish these objects the invention consists essentially in mechanisms fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure l is an elevationof my invention applied to a series of barrels, with the reservoir, receiver, and valve-chambers in section; Fig. 2, an enlarged longitudinal section of one ,of the check-valves located in the main supplypipe; and Fig. 3, an enlarged view, iirsection, of the automatic supply-valve and its connections with the scale-beam and exit-valve.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A A A indicate a series of fermenting vessels, casks, or barrels, each of which is provided with a faucet-coupling, at. These barrels, 810., may be of any desired number or size, may be located in the same or different apartments, cellars, or floors, and the invention will be equally efficient it used in connection with a single barrel of any size or conformation.

B indicates the main supply-pipe, which is common to all the barrels of the series, and is connected to each by a pipe, b, having upon its free end a coupling-cock, b, which may be connected with the faucet a or disconnected therefrom at will.

Located at desired distances apart in the supplypipe B are gravity check valves 0, which serve to allow free passage of the carbonic-acid gas in one direction, but to prevent return of the same. When, however, it is desired to have the gas which is generated from fermentation pass in the opposite direction, or from one cask to another from right to left, I employ a threaded stem, 0, which, being screwed inwardly, lifts the valve 0 from the seat, as seen in Fig. 2.

By proper pipes (shown at D and l) in the drawings, but which may be arranged to suit different locations and arrangements) the supply-pipe B connects with a receiver, E, and to this receiveris attached a pressure-gage, F, and

and the excess of gas passes off through the slow or faulty, and there is not sufficient carvertical stem 1 of which is loosely connectedv apipe,E,leadingfrom thisreceiverE,connects with the outer air. Within this pipe E is formed a valve-chamber, G, in which operates a valve, 9, the vertical stem g of which is loosely pivoted to a scale-beam, H, having its fulcrum at t in the standard I, as shown.v

Ordinarily the fermentation of the beer, wine, or the like will generate sufficient carbonicacid gas to afford the necessary pressuresay six or seven pounds-the amount being predetermined by accompanying circumstances, temperature, &c. As soon, then, as the fermentationin the cash A has generated sufficient gas to give a pressure equal to the power required to operate the check-valve O, the surplus passes to the supply-pipe B, and through the same to the next succeeding cask A, and so on through the series, until the uniform pressure in all the casks is more than equal to the pressure desired, and which was indicated by the position of the counterpoise H upon the scale-beam H. This surplus pressure then automatically lifts the valve 9 from its seat,

pipe E until the properpressure again obtains, when the valve g finds its seat, and thus the desired pressure is uniformly maintained in the casks'throughout the series. It sometimes occurs, however, that from various causes the fermentation of the beer, wine, or the like is bonic-acid gas generated to raise the pressure to the point desired, so as to properly clarify the liquid, and in such conditions I provide means for supplying the deficiency, as will be seen.

K represents a gas-reservoir having an inlet, k, and a safety-cock, K, the exhaust-pipe K from which connects with the pipe E at k, as shown. This reservoir is adapted to receive carbonic-acid gas, made in any proper manner and injected into the reservoir under force, or generated within said reservoir. A vertical pipe, L, is provided with a valvechamber, L, in which operates a valve, L the to a lever, l, fulcrumed at Z in a standard, P, a counterpoise, M, serving to hold the valve L to its seat. The upper extremity of the valvestem 1 operates loosely in a socket, h, formed in the free end of the scale-beam H, and a thumb-nut, m, allows of the proper adjustment of the throw of the beam and valve. The form of the valve which is designed to comprise this part of the invention is illus trated in Fig. 3; but it is obvious that other forms and arrangements of valve may be made without sacrificing the advantages of this construction, the essential feature of which is a valve operated automatically by the beam H to open the reservoirtothe supply-pipeB when there isa minus pressure in the series of barrels and the valve 9 is closed.

Pipes N N connect the valve-chamber L with the supply-pipe B, and itwillbeobserved that when the pressure in the barrels, the supply-pipe, the receiver, and connections is minus the valve .g finds its, seat, and the beam H.

turns downward upon its .-"=pivot .13 until the edges of its socket hstrike the shoulder h of the valve-stem Z. This action overcomes the weight of the counterpoise M and forces the valve L from its seat, allowing the gas from the reservoir to enter the supply pipe B through the connections N N, to pass into the barrels, (each of the series in succession,) thence to the receiver, and when the uniform pressure is slightly more than equal to the amount indicated on the beam the valve g will be lifted from its seat, which action will lift the beam from its bearing on the shoulder h of the stem 1, and the valve L will find its seat, actuated by the gravity of the counterpoise M. q

A safety-valve, P, is connected with the re ceiver E, and the exhaust therefrom connects withthe pipes Pl. This safety-valve should be set so as to allow a slightly greater pressure than thatto which the counterpoise H is adjusted to allow the proper operation of the valves 9 and L as described, and is only of service in case of faulty operation of the valves to prevent the bursting of the casks, and to more accurately regulate and adjust the flow of gas from the fermenting-vessels and the gas generator or reservoir.

The gage F is ordinarily located in the office of the brewery or other establishment where this invention is liable to be used, and when the said gage indicates that the fermentation is not generating suficient carbonic-acid gas to produce the proper pressure, instead of employing the automatic valve L the reservoir K may be opened to the supply-pipe B by a simple hand-cock located conveniently for that purpose.

It designates a chamber for the water of condensation, and r a blow-off.

Modifications in some of the details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which will be readily understood from the foregoing deseription,taken in connection with the drawmgs.

The invention will greatly facilitate the clarification of wine and allow the same to be accomplished at one operation. The entire body of liquor being treated will be subject to a uniform pressure, and the result will necessarily be a uniform quality of liquor, and large quantities of such uniform quality can readily be shipped at a time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for fermenting and clarifying beer, wine, 850., and in combination with a series of containing-vessels, a main supplypipe common to all such vessels and connected to each by a suitable coupling, the said supply having one or more cheek-valves and means for throwing such valves out of operation at will, whereby the gases may have free passage in one direction only, or may be allowed to traverse in either direction, as may be desired, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for fermenting and clarifying beer, wine, &c., and in combination with a series of containing-vessels, a main supplypipe common to all such vessels, having checkva1ves,,as described, and connected to each vessel by a suitable coupling, a receiver having a gage to denote the amount of pressure, means, substantially as described, for adjusting the pressure to any desired degree, and means for automatically ejecting the excess of pressure when said pressure has reached such predetermined point, substantially as'described.

3. In combination with a common supplypipe having two or more check-valves opening in the same direction, a series of containin g-vessels and coupling-connections, a receiver having a gage to denote the amount of pressure, a scale-beam and counterpoise connected with an outlet-valve to adjust the amount of pressure desired, and avalve adapted to au-- tomatically allow the emission of gases when the force of the counterpoise is overcome by the pressure, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a supply-pipe having check-valves which allow a passage of generated gases in one direction only,except when manipulated as described, a series of containpressure, and means for automatically supply.

ing such :gas to the containing-vessels when the forceof the counterpoise is not overcome, substantially asset forth.

5. In combination with the main supplypipe having check-valves arranged between the vessels,which automatically check a back- Ward flow of gas, the containing-vessels and connecting-couplings therewith, a gas-reservoir having connections with said supply-pipe, and avalve which is automatically closed when the desired pressure is obtained, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the supply-pipe having check-valves, the containing-vessels and the connecting-couplings, the reservoir and pipes N N, the receiver and pipes D D, the valve g, the scale-beam and counterpoise, the valve L having counterpoise M, and stem 1, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7, In an apparatus for fermenting and clarifying beer, 850., and in combination with the valve g, scale-beam 1 1, and counterpoise H, the valve L having stem Z, and counterpoise M, as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for fermenting and clarifying beer, &c., and in combination with the main supply-pipe B, the check-valves C, having threaded stems e, and adapted to serve as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in the presence of two subscribing 

